Rodent-trap.



y S. MILLS.

Homann TRAP.

, APPUCTON FILED JAN.22 |916. 1,204,472. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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rens co.. Pnamvmmmnmswxu n S. IVIILLS.

RODENT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22.1915.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAMUEL MILLS, or CLEVELAND, omo.

noDENT-TRAP.

Lao-4,472.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application led January 22, 1916. Serial No. 78,516.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL M'ILLS, a citizenof the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Chio, have invented a new and useful Improvement inVRodent-'Ifrapa of which the following is a. specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in`which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

My invention relatesto a rodent trap and more particularly to a deviceof this character adapted automatically to reset itself.

The object of this invention is provision of a trap which will bepositive yet delicate in its operation and which will be sufficientlyeconomical of manufacture for use wherev ratsor other obnoxious rodentsabound.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination.l and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated intheaccompanying drawings, wherein is'shown preferred and modifiedembodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that many otherchanges, variationsand modifications can be resorted to which comewithin the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Adverting to the drawings, Figure I is a vertical section of a trapembodying my invention associatedwith a water container andv showing thetrap in its set position. Fig. II is a similar view withv certain partsin an altered position as assumed when the trap is sprung. Fig. III is asection on line III-III of Fig. I looking downwardly. Fig. IV is anenlarged view of certain details shown in lFig. I. Fig. V is a bottomplan of Fig. IV.

While the drawings illustrate my trap employed in conjunction with anordinary barrel in which water may or may not be contained it is evidentthat the character of the receptacle for catching the rodents may beanything else suited to the purpose intended. The structure shownincludes a barrel 1 provided with hoops 2 and an open top across which asupporting frame 3 is adapted to rest. This frame includes a pair ofconverging side members 4 and depending block 5 and another block 6abutting the other and extending upwardly a given distance above theframe 3. As appears in Figs. II and V the block 6 is provided with anupwardly extending recess 7 and a bore 8 opening into thesame. Securedso as to extend across the recess 7 is a pin 9` upon which a lockingrack 10 is pivotally suspended. This rack is normally held inapredetermined position of rest yby a compression spring 11 whichoccupies the bore 8. Thepurpose of the locking' rack 10 will behereinafter explained. Surmounted over the frame 3 is a funnel shapedhood 12 the smaller end of which abuts against the block 6 to form aclosed end. At some suitable point within this closed end and upontheblock 6 a bait 13 is located.

Pivotally mounted at 14 between the sides 4 of the frame is a member 15adapted to swing idownwardly toward the position in which it appears in'Fig. II. That end of thel swinging member 15 which is located outside ofthe hood l2 is curved downwardly at 16 and thereafter backwardly or in adirection toward its other free end atI 17 at which point it carries acounterweight 18 adaptedv to be adjusted therealong. If the swingingmember 15 is made of wood the upper surface thereof is preferably metalcoated as with tin 19 in order to preclude a sustaining or saving clutchagainst its surface by the claws of the rodent. The member 15, in theexemplification shown, is provided withl an aperture 20 to permit of themovement oftrip 21 which is hinged vto one side thereof at 22 as clearlyappears in Fig. IV. The trip 21 extends an appropriate distance from thehinge 22 in a direction toward the closed end ofthe hood 12 whereby therequired leverage is attained. Depending as an integral element is anextension 23 with which a hook 24 articulates. The other end of the hook24 articulates with a catch 25 hinged at 26 to a stamping 27 which issecured to the end surface of the member 15 by means of a series ofscrews likewise clearly seen in Fig. IV. The catch 25 isv l fashionedwith an offset 28 adapted to act as a detent in a manner to be presentlydescribed. The Catch 25 furthermore carries on its opposite side anextension 29 which is engaged by a double torsion spring 30 arranged tobear downwardly upon it to throw the catch 25 in a direction toward therack 10 thus drawing the hook 24 and extension 23 along with it tonormally maintain the trip 21 in its elevated or inclined position.

Depending from the stamping 27 between the positions of the rack 10 andthe catch 25 are a pair of brackets 31 provided with alined bearings 32in which a pin 33 is mounted.. Rotatably supported upon the pin 33 is aratchet wheel 34 adapted to engage the raclr 10 and in turn be engagedby the offset 2S of the catch 25. The heft and disposition of thecounterweight 18 is to be so adjusted that the other free end of theswinging member 15 is normally held in its uppermost position or thatshown in Fig. I at which time the ratchet wheel 34 is prevented fromturning because of the engagement therewith of the rack 10 on one sideand the catch 25 on the other.

A rodent on sniiiing the bait is 'tempted to enter the hood 12 andpresently advances along the trip 21 until the major portion of itsweight at its haunches causes a depression of the trip against theaction of the spring 30 to thereby release one side of the wheel 34 fromthe 'detent 28 and thus permit the wheel to roll upon the rack 10 andspring the trap by permitting the member 15 to swing downwardly andthereby compel the rodent to drop into the barrel. Directly thereafter,owing to the release of weight, the wheel 34 is again elevated and tent28.

I desire to specify the advantage of employing a ratchet wheel `34 inthe manner shown. Owing to the fact that one-half of the actual weightof the rodent is sustained by the rack and one-half by the detent 28 thewithdrawal of the latter is more easily accomplished and the trapthereby made correspondingly sensitive or more delicate in itsoperation. Another feature resides in constricting the area from whichthe scent of the bait may be obtained to thereby ooncentrate thealluring odor of the same and furthermore the quantity of bait may beconsiderably in excess of that usually used because practice hasdemonstrated that but little if any is removed by the animal or animalswhich have been caught. The purpose of the spring 11 is to insureagainst a sticking of the parts during the automatic reset by alwaysforcing the teeth of the rack past the tips of the ratchet wheel. Ifdesired a spring or some other equivalent means for accomplishing theautomatic resetting movement could be substituted for the counterweight.

I claim:

1. A rodent trap comprising an open receptacle, a swinging frame mountedover the opening thereof, a rack, a ratchet wheel carried by said frameand adapted to roll on said rack, a trip, means yieldingly connectedtherewith and normally engaging said wheel on the side oppositeY saidrack whereby to lock the frame against movement, said trip being adaptedand arranged to be operated by the weight of a rodent to suddenlyrelease the engagement with one side of said wheel.

2; A device of the Acharacter described comprising a support, a memberadapted to swing thereon, a yielding detent, a ratchet wheel carried bysaid member and adapted to come into engagement with said detent, a tripcarried by said member, means yieldingly connected therewith andnormally engaging said wheel on the side opposite said detent whereby tolock said wheel against rotation in coaction with said detent, thearrangement being such that a delicate actuation of said trip releases.one side of said wheel to enable it to roll upon said detent in responseto a gravitational fall of said member.

Signed by me this 14th day of January,

SAMUEL MILLS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D, C.

